Cigarette container



@CL 19, 1937. v E RD ZEQSAQZ CIGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Aug. 15, 1936 jwwr Patented Oct. 19, 1 937 f omen STATES PATENT oFFics 2.096.102 'CIGARET'IE CONTAINER Edwin I. Gordon, Chicago, Ill. Application August 15, 1936, Serial No. 96,266

2 Claims.

provide a. package suitable for cigarettes and thelike with means for conveniently and readily removing a section of one end of the package. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated. in preferred embodiments, by the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying my invention; Fig. 2, .a broken view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the revenue stamp removed; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the package after a section of the top has been removed; Fig.- 4, a plan view of the paper flat before it is folded to form the package in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive; Fig. 5, a broken perspective view of a package showing a. modified form of my invention; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a section ofthe top freed but not complete- 1y severed; and Fig. 7,. a plan view of a paper flat before it is folded to form the package illustrated in Figs. and 6.. I

I am aware of the fact that perforations have been formed in packages for forming openings therein to permit the dischar e ofthe contents therefrom. No'one, however, to my knowledge. has ever been able to apply to a package like that commonly employed for cigarettes, in which the end portions are folded over each other, means for readily forming an opening therein near one end, the opening being so formed that theside walls of the package around theopening are free from any obstruction adjacent the. opening, save as to the portion oi the package which remains 40 still covered. Withthis construction, I find that, the cigarettes can be readily retained in the package, even though a number of cigarettes have been removed, while cigarettes'can beremoved with the minimum oi eflort when desired. A complete severance and removal of a section about one end of the package can be accomplished in a moment, in; the operation of my invention, notwithstanding the fact that the paper flaps enclosing the end are folded into overlappixzigzposition, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 an In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

'1, 2, 3 and 4, I stitch a portion of the paper and foil enclosing the cigarettes with a lock stitch, or 55 other suitable stitch, which will tear the paper (CL eas -51) when the threads are pulled. The stitch is formed very easily on the flat paper and foil body 10, composed of a strip of paper and an aligned sheet of foil, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Preferably the two threads II are severedat a point so that I the free ends thereof extend below therevenue stamp I: after .the revenue stamp has been applied, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

When the threads I l are drawn, they tear the stamp l2, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, then tear through the top flap ii of the paper and foil body I 0, and then back along the edges of the fold in the body I to the edge of the strip l0. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the removal of that portion enclosed within the stitching threads H brings about a removal of one end section of the package. That end is exposed and permits th removal of cigarettes therethrough. a

In the illustration given in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, the stitching threads Ila do not pass through the overlapping folds I 3, but only around the edges of one end of the package. However, in this operation, they do destroy a portion of the stamp I211, as illustrated in Fig. 6. In the use ofthe form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and "l, a pull of the threads Ila frees one end of. the top. The top may then be bent back over the other side tov permit the removal of cigarettes; or, if desired, the i'reediiap I may be torn away. thus reaching substantially the same result as was reached initially in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2,

3 and 4. r "It will be understood that other modifications may be made in. the method of tearing one end of the packageto expose the cigarettes or other contents.

The problem of opening a package having one end'closed by folded-over portions without, at the same time, completely opening the end of the package, is thus seen to be solved by a very simple and inexpensive means, while at the same time providing a package which serves eilectively to retain cigarettes therein while permitting the cigarettes to be removed readily when the package istipped to-one side to cause the cigarettes to fall toward the side which is open. In the latter position, there is no obstruction. to prevent endwise movement of the cigarettes because the severance is at the-free edge of the package. It will be understood that instead of stitching threads, 5 other suitable means for weakening the package sections. may be employed for carrying out the spirit of the invention. 7

While I have described the invention in connection with a cigarette package,- it is obvious that the invention may be employed with other packages of various types.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding-only, and no unnecessary limitationsv should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a wrapper folded to form a package, said wrapper having transverse folds by which are formed four sides making an enclosure of rectangular shape and having longitudinal folds near its upper and lower edges forming end enclosures, a draw thread stitched along a portion of one of the longitudinal folds at one end of the package and having a free end extendtudinal folds near its upper and lower edges form-5 ing end enclosures, a draw thread stitched along a portion of the longitudinal fold at the upper end of the package and also having a portion stitched at right angles to said longitudinal fold and extending across to the upper edge of the wrapper, whereby a pull on the thread will severand remove a portion of the enclosure at said upper end of the package.

- EDWIN I. GORDON. 

